Russian S-300 Missile Contract Unaffected by Iran Sanctions, to be Fulfilled

17:15 10/06/2010

RIA Novosti. Dmitriy Korobeinikov

MOSCOW, June 10, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

The delivery of Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran will not be affected by new UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

The United Nations Security Council approved on Wednesday a new package of economic sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

"Insofar as yesterday's resolution on Iran contains references to specific types of weapons, I can say that no antiaircraft systems, except man-portable air-defense missile complexes, are included in the UN Register of Conventional Arms," Andrei Nesterenko said.

The fourth round of sanctions will include tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo. They also impose an asset ban and a travel freeze on more than three dozen companies and individuals.

The ministry warned on Wednesday of retaliatory measures if new sanctions against Iran affected Russian companies or individuals and said it was especially concerned by the prospect of "extraterritorial sanctions" - sanctions imposed on companies and individuals from third countries.

A senior Russian lawmaker said in late May new sanctions against Iran would not stop Russia from fulfilling its S-300 contract.

Moscow signed a contract on supplying Iran with at least five S-300 systems in December 2005, but its implementation has so far been delayed.

The United States and Israel have called on Russia not to deliver the missiles to Iran. The West is also concerned by Russia's role in helping Iran to build its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the resolution left wide scope for economic cooperation with Iran, and said that Russia was particularly interested in the construction of light water nuclear reactors in the Islamic Republic.

Twelve members of the council's 15 members voted for the resolution, which was sponsored by the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia. Turkey and Brazil voted against the resolution, and Lebanon abstained.

Russia, Iran to continue cooperation despite new sanctions - lawmaker

Konstantin Kosachev 16:41 10/06/2010

RIA Novosti. Anton Denisov

MOSCOW, June 10, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

New sanctions on Iran will not affect Russia's energy or military cooperation with the Islamic Republic, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Thursday.

The UN Security Council approved on Wednesday a new package of economic sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

Konstantin Kosachev, who heads the foreign affairs committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, said the new sanctions do not prohibit Russia's contract on deliveries of S-300s surface-to-air missile systems to Iran or cooperation in building a nuclear power plant.

"The sanctions...do not affect Russia-Iranian cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, more specifically the building of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr," Kosachev said.

The fourth round of sanctions imposed on Iran includes tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo. They also stipulate an asset ban and a travel freeze on more than three dozen companies and individuals.

Twelve members of the council's 15 members voted for the resolution, which was sponsored by the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia. Turkey and Brazil, two of the Council's current rotating members, voted against the resolution.

Kosachev said the resolution was "a forced but adequate step" by peaceful society in response to the current position of the Iranian authorities.

"Unfortunately, the previous three resolutions were not observed and if the current situation develops as it did before and the new resolution is thrown in a garbage, then the current sanctions will not be the last nor the toughest," he said.

He added it was important for Russia that the new set of sanctions "does not contain measures of a military nature and focuses only on the nuclear aspects of the Iranian program."

International pressure on Iran increased in early February when Tehran announced it had begun enriching uranium to 20% in lieu of an agreement on an exchange that would provide it with fuel for a research reactor.

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